greensides



Jan; 19-59 L. A. GREENSIDES BATH TUB AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed Jan.18, 1957 INVENTOR. LgWRENCE A. GREENS/0E5 ATTORNEY United States PatentBATH TUB AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Lawrence A. Greensides, Aurora, Colo.Application January 18, 1957,'Serial No. 634,989

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to a bath tub installationand an attachment therefor, and in particular relates to apparatus foruse with bath tubs which results in the liquid which is fed to the bathtub being circulated throughout the bathing recess formed therein andwhich results in substantial elimination of the noise and splashingusually encountered when filling a bath tub with liquid.

In connection with modern day bath tubs it is recognized that there havebeen many improvements, particularly in regard to the appearancethereof. However, the water inlet, including the hot and cold valves andthe faucet, is the same as it was many years ago. Liquid flowing fromthe faucet creates a distasteful noise and splashing and furthermore thetemperature of the incoming water really only affects the temperature ofany liquid already accumulated in the bathing recess at a localized areaadjacent the faucet or front end of the tub or, in other words, to havethe liquidin the tub at a substantially uniform temperature as opposedto a hot front end and a cold back end it is necessary to manuallycirculate or otherwise mix the liquid in the tub. Obviously these areobjectionable features and the present invention is designed to overcomesame by means of either a permanent bath tub installation or anattachment therefor.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide apparatus for use inconnection with a bath tub which overcomes the defects and objectionspreviously enumerated.

It is another object of this invention to provide an attachment formodern day bath tub installations which is inexpensive and simple inconstruction and which may be readily attached to the faucet and wall ofthe bathing recess to provide a means for substantially eliminatingsplashing and noise of water as it enters the tub, especially after someliquid has already accumulated in the recess, and to insure circulationof the incoming water so that the water in the tub will be ofsubstantially uniform temperature throughout.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the typedescribed in the preceding paragraph which may be installed as apermanent installation and form an integral part of the bath tub.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with thedrawings wherein preferred embodiments have been illustrated, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a diagramatic sectional view illustrating the invention inthe form of a permanent installation;

Figure 2 is a top view showing the present invention in the form of anattachment; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 with the tubthereof broken away in section.

In Figure 1, there is depicted a modern day bath tub T which includesthe bathing recess B and the drain D. Of course, the tub is flush withthe wall W of the bathroom and the usual faucet, hot and cold watercontrol valves (not necessary with the present installation) would beexposed from this wall W. In Figures 2 and 3 there is illustrated asimilar bath tub T positioned flush with the bath room wall W and inthis instance there would be a bathing recess B and the usual faucet Fand the hot water control valves V and V1, the latter being of the typethat normally would be included in the installation of bath tub T. Inconnection with bath tubs T and T, when a person desires to bathe, thedrains D and D thereof are closed in the usual manner and valves V andV1 are operated so that water at a desired temperature will flow fromfaucet F. In a matter of seconds water accumulates in the bottom ofrecesses B and B and from then on the incoming water splashes and makessubstantial noise as it fills up within the recesses. Of course, thereis noise and splashing instantaneously (the faucet is a substantialdistance from the recess bottom), that is, when the water first strikesthe bottom surface of the bathing recess, but such noise and evensplashing increases after some water accumulates in the recess.Furthermore, once a person commences his bath, it generally is necessaryto again have water enter the recesses from the faucets, either to coolor heat the liquid already contained within the recesses B and B.Assuming that hot water is added, in variably the increasing oftemperature of the liquid already in the recesses is localized to anarea adjacent the front end of the tub and either the bather has to besatisfied with this discomfort or has to manually circulate the water sothe entire liquid within the recess is heated and at a substantiallyuniform temperature. As stated, the present designs overcome theseproblems.

Referring first to Figure 1, which shows the present invention as apermanent installation, numeral 1 represents a pipe manifold havingoutlets 2 communicating with reduced orifices which are formed in theoriginal molding of the tub, thus providing liquid jet outlets forfeeding Water to the recess B. Communicating with the manifold]. is aliquid line 4 which is the outlet from a commercially available mixingvalve V2,the hot water inlet to the mixing valve being shown at 5 andthe cold water inlet being shown at 6. Numeral 7 merely represents amixing valve dial and control arm which is available in the bathroominterior and the bather utilizes this dial and control arm to open orclose the water line 4 and to regulate and control the temperature ofthe incoming water. It is to be understood that all pipes and liquidlines including the manifold 1 and the control valve V2 will not beexposed in the bathroom, thus creasing a streamlined modern effect, asis desirous in present day installations. It will also be noted that jetoutlets 3, which preferably enter the recess B immediately adjacent thebottom thereof, cause the water entering recess B to flow in a like pathwhich is counterclockwise when viewed as in Figure l, but, of course,this would be reversed. Thus, the incoming water is well circulated tomaintain a relatively constant mixed temperature throughout; Of course,the number of jet outlets 3 may be varied as desired, but there shouldbe at least one on each side of the tub T. By referring above andhereinafter to jet outlets immediately adjacent the recess bottom ismeant adjacent the point where the vertical recess wall begins itsgradual upward taper from the sharp curve of the recess bottom.

Considering Figures 2 and 3, there is shown tubing 10 which may be arubber, plastic or metal tubing. One end of this tubing terminates in arubber or plastic nipple 11 designed to fit over the outlet of faucet Fand the other end of the tubing 10 terminates in horizontal tubing 12,this joint being in the nature of an inverted T joint providing liquidcommunication between tubing 16 and 12. The tubing 12 is contoured asshown in Figure 2 whereby its legs 13 form a substantially inverted Uand the U tubing 10 provide a combined manifold or liquid line 14 forincoming liquid. Secured to the manifold 14 by a suitable bonding meansat the bends of the U are rubber or plastic suction cups 115 and theyare designed to engage the two front corners of the interior surface ofthe bath tub recess B and to maintain the manifold supported andpositioned Within the tub. The legs 13 terminate in closed ends 16having fluid communication with outlet tips 17 that are pivotallymounted thereon so they may be adjusted to direct the outgoing waterflowing therethrough in any direction desired and preferably in a likepath (clockwise as viewed in Figure 2), and here again the number ofthese outlets 17 may be varied to provide more than one on each side ofthe tub by merely extending the length of legs 13 along the sides of therecess. The tips have reduced orifices to provide jet-like water outletsand these outlets together with the legs 13 are preferably positionedimmediately adjacent the bottom of recess B.

In operation of both embodiments of the invention water being ejected ordischarged into the recesses B and B from the jet nozzles (which areimmediately adjacent the recess bottom) does not splash nor is there anyappreciable noise associated therewith, especially when some wateraccumulates within the recess and the level thereof passes the height ofthe nozzles. Furthermore, due to the position of the nozzles theincoming Water is properly circulated to maintain the liquid throughoutthe recesses at a relatively constant tempera ture. It should bementioned that newly constructed and installed tubs may readilyincorporate the teachings of Figure 1 and as to the portable attachmentof Figures 2 and 3, this may be utilized with most any tub at a minimumexpense. As to the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, it will be obviousthat it is simple to attach and detach to present installations.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of this invention hereinshown and described are to be taken as preferred examples thereof andthat various changes relative to material, size, shape and arrangementof parts may be resorted to Without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An attachment for a bath tub having a bathing recess of substantialdepth formed therein providing a bottom surface and end and side wallsupstanding therefrom, the tub having associated therewith adjacent theend wall the usual liquid faucet, comprising a liquid supply line forcarrying liquid from the faucet into the recess, said line beingdetachably connectable with the faucet and having connected therewith apair of liquid jet discharge nozzles, means to detachably secure theline to the interior surface of the tub recess adjacent the frontcorners and bottom surface thereof whereby a nozzle may be positionedimmediately adjacent the recess bottom along each side wall of therecess, said nozzles being further positioned to discharge liquid fromsaid line into said recess and direct same in a like circulatory path,said line including a first tube detachably connectable to the faucetand arranged to extend therefrom vertically downwardly in the recess toimmediately adjacent the bottom surface, and a second tube in the formof a substantial U with the legs thereof being arranged for positioningin a common horizontal plane along the sides of the recess immediatelyadjacent the bottom surface and terminating in said nozzles, said meansto detachably secure the line comprising at least one suction cupcarried by the second tube of the line and engageable with said interiorsurface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS953,529 Higgins Mar. 29, 1910 1,962,793 Vogel June 12, 1934 2,100,186Hagopian Nov. 23, 1937 2,502,052 Landon et al. Mar. 28, 1950 2,575,636Patch Nov. 20, 1951 2,705,329 Exton-Porter Apr. 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS105,590 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1917

